Dan Turgeman's Life: From Acting to Tax Evasion Conviction
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
Actor and director Dan Turgeman will celebrate his 68th birthday soon, but his recent headlines have been dominated by a tax evasion conviction. Originally an IDF officer, Turgeman built a successful career in Israeli film and television, also venturing into directing and business. His business activities led to charges of failing to report millions in income, resulting in a ten-month prison sentence after an appeal increased his initial sentence. He is scheduled to begin serving his sentence in March 2027.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Actor and director Dan Turgeman has been sentenced to ten months in prison for tax evasion.
- Turgeman, known for "Touching Happiness" and "The Eighth," will turn 68.
- His conviction stems from undeclared income related to real estate ventures.
- An appeal increased his initial sentence of community service to actual prison time.
- He is expected to begin his sentence on March 1, 2027.
- Turgeman is the father of actor Elad Turgeman and musician Liam Turgeman.
Actor and director Dan Turgeman, known for his roles in "Touching Happiness," "The Eighth," and "The Dubber," is set to celebrate his 68th birthday. Throughout his career, Turgeman has starred in films and television series, directed movies, worked in theater, and ventured into business. However, in recent years, his name has been in the headlines due to a tax evasion case that recently resulted in an increased sentence of ten months in prison.
Turgeman, born in Jerusalem in 1958 to parents from Morocco, began his career not in acting but as an officer in the Paratroopers Brigade of the IDF. After his military service, he pursued theater studies at Tel Aviv University. His film debut was in 1986's "Avanti Popolo," where he played an Egyptian officer, followed by a leading role in "In the Shadow of the Battle Shock" two years later. He became a recognizable figure in Israeli cinema with appearances in films like "The Valley Train," "Crossfire," and "In the Name of Love."
In 2001, Turgeman gained widespread recognition for his role in "Touching Happiness," considered Israel's first telenovela. He also hosted a related event in 2002. His television work continued with roles in youth series such as "The Eighth," "Our Song High School," "City Tower," and "Ananda," and in the 2019 crime series "The Dubber."
Beyond acting, Turgeman also directed films, including "Minotaur" (1997), "Something Sweet" (2004), and "The Golden Pomegranate" (2012). He was married to actress Anat Atzmon from 1991 to 2003, with whom he has two sons: Liam, a musician, and Elad, who followed his parents into acting and content creation, appearing in the reality show "Power Couple."
Turgeman's business ventures, particularly in real estate marketing and land development during the 2000s, led to his legal troubles. In 2018, he was arrested on suspicion of failing to report millions of shekels in income from property rentals. He was convicted of tax offenses in 2025 based on a plea deal, initially sentenced to nine months of community service and a NIS 100,000 fine. The prosecution appealed this sentence, and in September, the Tel Aviv District Court increased his prison term to ten months of actual incarceration, while reducing the fine to NIS 50,000. Turgeman is expected to begin serving his sentence on March 1, 2027.